Wednesday, December 24, 2008

I finally managed to watch Rab Ne...a full 10 days after it released! God bless Ba for I had no company till then! The movie...well it certainly didn't live up to the expectations...the girl looked bad, the music was insipid and the end predictable. SRK was actually looking like Vince Mcmahon, For WWE followers- too beefed up (read steroids) and really looked ghastly! The story was non existent, wonder in which dreamland the heroine lives in...Mohabbatein gave better value for money if you ask me. And for the last time its really NOT cool for guys to wear short tees, let us at least leave that one thing to our counterparts!! The director managed to make even the tried and tested retro dance number (with kajol and three others in it) look tasteless!! All in all immensely forgettable!!Ghajini is releasing tomorrow and with its phenomenal amount of over exposure I wouldn't be surprised if it bombed!!(No screams a Google search,the advance booking is enough to recover its cost!!)Lets wait and watch!!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

There was a time when a serial on Doordarshan meant the penultimate glory. Family functions were postponed, meal timings were arranged in such a manner that no one missed any minuscule portion of a serial and television became the nation’s favorite pastime which was both addictive and alluring. From the charming Chitrahaar to the humility personified Hum Log, these reel life entities transcended their boundaries and loomed larger than life. The actors were real and wholesome entertaining was given the pride of place. Buniyaad, Fauji, Shanti, Swabhimaan, Dekh Bhai Dekh and Shriman Shrimati were only some of the serials with which people could identify with, chatter about them at impromptu places and relate to them as if they were an extension of their own life. They moved people with their piquant narration, had them in splits over innocuous humor and moved them with the compulsive play of human emotions. It was truly the golden era of Indian Television.

With the advent of cable television Zee took the reigns from DD becoming its legitimate heir, although it did not do such a holistic job, it did manage an enviable task-that of presenting to people the power of change. Serials like Tara, Banegi Apni Baat and Rishtey not only were path breaking but were also hugely successful in breaking stereotypes. They did not limit themselves to pose questions but also demanded answers. Breaking away from the moulds of propriety and chauvinism they played an instrumental role in the coming of age of Indian Television. With an assorted and assiduous range of soaps like Sailaab, Teacher, Campus and Hip Hip Hurray they succeeded in not only retaining viewers but also in attracting new ones. It was a path breaking era and one that explored hitherto virgin territories with finesse.

Circa 2000, entered Ekta kapoor with a magic wand and with her brought a change which would strip Indian Television of its simplicity and naivety. With Star Plus as home ground, she revolutionized television with her unprecedented success and a blitzkrieg to rival that of films. Garish saris and grotesque facial expressions became the order of the day and men became the weaker sex of the small screen. Kyonki, Kahani, Kahin Kissi Roz, Kahin To Hoga brought in TRP’s and money at an unparalleled rate. While the heroines became saintly and god like, vamps became meaner and more menacing. Idealistic Bahus were virgins, voluble and virtuous, capable of enduring inhuman agonies and anguish with a silly smile. It was a phase when Indian television changed forever.

Currently we are in the fourth stage where an alarming 63 channels jostle for attention, Real life Drama, expletives and abuses are all a part of an actor’s ensemble. There is no clear victor and the poor viewer is bereft of choices. Innovation is dead and formula is in. There is no clear winner today, everyone loses! The best entertainment is provided by 24/7 news channels!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

As we move farther and farther away from who we are we leave behind us remnants of ourselves.Things which were taken for granted just a decade back are rarefied today. Symbols which were not merely symbolic but an expression and extension of who we were, some things whose extinction I rue1.Ink pens- Nothing feels the same, its ink pens or nothing. Although I still use them (which is rare considering I have no need to write)it is curtains down for the once pervasive must haves. Ink pens, the smell of ink and the paraphernalia associated with it! Miss all of it.2.Greeting cards- Nothing can even come close to expressing yourself with the help of the good old card. Warm, personal and an expression of intimacy… but greeting cards are no longer in vogue…one look at the terrible stocks in any Archie’s gallery should suffice…what’s taken over?? smses!! sigh!3.looong summer vacations-by long I mean only 10-14 days, I still miss spending a week in the summer at my granddads. Nowadays people don’t have time to vacation on a weekend. Holidays wee never so hurried…rush in and rush out. As keats said “no time to pause and ponder”…vacations have become so crammed that one wishes not to have any!!4.Scooters: I miss them, not only because I can drive one but because they were elegant, charming and the ultimate in chic! Right now they are antique but nevertheless for me they are the absolute in old world charm!5.Others which made it are cameras, black and white photographs and tape recorders.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Like everyone else, I was appalled at the "event" in which three guys attacked two helpless girl armed with acid and succeeded in blurring their entire lives in one instant. Swift action met with an even swifter reaction and these guys were killed in a police encounter. I, for one welcome the police encounter. We've been subjected to many voices of dissent that say that this is police excess and should not be lauded. I disagree and vehemently so. The act was heinous and dastardly and deserved something more than the usual rounds of courts and adjournments, a reaction like this would in the very least discourage other lovesick people to pause and ponder in case their purported "love" is not accepted. In case the police didn't act, fingers would be raised on their ineffectiveness! these poor guys are caught between the devil and deep sea, criticized on all counts! I agree, this might trigger off unseemly incidents but then unless a precedent is established, you cannot work on its failings.Exaggerated examples like next time there is a robbery the thieves would be shot down in cold blood is merely that-exaggeration and trivialization of what is obviously a very serious issue.The act of throwing acid on people whom you allegedly love reveals a frightening sense of perversion and we are better off without such people. Hope the swift action would stop people from this utter insanity of toying with lives! And hope the police wont get carried away by this one example!!Am so glad the Government has given out the Bharat Ratna this time and that too to an amazing persona. Wish it was given out more often, we have many of these gems!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Lord Krishna was supposed to personify the words- dark and beautiful. One look at the Lord Krishna in the serial “Jai Shri Krishna” on Colors dispels all preconceived notions. The God here is played by an amazing cute and endearing child who is winning over friends and foes alike with a charisma unheard of in a two year old! Targeting viewers of all age groups the serial has been wowing one and all as witnessed by its steady climb in the TRP charts. A prime time slot (at 8.30) has only helped the ratings zoom northwards. The cast consists of relative new comers who are content with playing second fiddle to the child. A remarkable feature is the amazing use of child actors all who are below the age of five. One can only imagine the effort which has been put it to extract such incredible performances.The chemistry between the kids is crackling, be it during the portrayal of the doomed love between Radha and Krishna or the misadventures of Krishna and Balrama. The serial clicks because of its exuberant energy and the tacit handling of story which keeps viewers hooked and because of the deft manner in which it chronicles the childhood of one of India’s best loved Gods. It is also a medium through which children who are otherwise hooked to play stations and palmtops can learn about the age old mythological stories which define the paradigm of our cultural ethos. One commendable feature is that the serial doles out the all important message about the victory of good over evil without being too preachy or tedious. However a criticism which has dogged the show is that regarding the glamorization of innocuous childhood and indulging in certain liberties thereby trivializing the message imparted. What comes to its rescue is the fact that the presentation (especially in cases where children are involved) needs to evolve along with the generations to make them more relatable. The music, being immensely hummable blends itself in the narration. It goes on to prove that all one needs in dealing with epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata is simplicity and not gauzy sets, intrepid costumes and six packs unlike a la monster called (Ekta Kapoor’s)Mahabarata!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Shantaram, the amazing biography of Gregory David Roberts has had a buzz about it ever since it has hit the bookshelves. Candid, unobtrusive and irresistible in storyline and narration the book stands out for it description of the entity called life .At times awe inspiring and at times spine chilling this is the account of the author’s life, a beauteous journey which made him break out of an Australian prison and come to India on a forged passport, live in a slum as a doctor, work for the Mumbai Underworld and even fight against the Russians in Afganistan, every line of this fascinating book is profound and verbose. For a book of more than 900 pages to be a page turner is no mean feat and the author has done this with an amazing sense of alacrity. The supporting characters are well etched out and completely justify their use in the story line. One of the outstanding features of this book is the celerity with which it espouses philosophy which is all encompassing and includes everything from the Big bang theory to the ancient wisdom of India. The book is chronicled with examples and one liners which manage to convey the amazing depth of the writer’s thought process. An astonishing fact is that the book was destroyed as many as six times when the author had first written it in the prison, it is but an exemplary example of the tenacity and grit of the author who has finished it in the face of such adversity with such élan! No aspect of life is left out and the nefarious ways in which life doles out blows to individuals who struggle to come to terms with the startling turn of events is captured in a compelling manner. Another quality which leaves a mark on the reader is the restrained lyricism of words which manage to leave a lasting impression. It is extremely easy for one to relate to the events unfolding in the book because of the sheer force of story telling employed. It poses questions, demands answers and induces many such incidents which are thought proving and gut wrenching.It also unleashes the hypnotic power of truth by concealing it in the simplest of words. The greatest achievement of this book is however the manner and spirit in which it chooses to express itself, lines which seem commonplace but are not, incidents which seem trivial but are often hiding in them the mystical force of fate and the tacit method it employs to drive the point home-don’t ever give up! It manages to transport the reader to a world of adventure, triumph and sorrow with the usage of its exotic words and eclectic vocabulary. A survivor’s account the book is an uninhibited victory over odds. It coerces you to challenge its notions, seduces you only to spurn you and rivets you with unabashed fury. In a world where everything shiny sells,this book is the uncrowned and unparalleled king of understatement.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Took my first Interview ever yesterday!! after years of watching people doing it I finally did it! although it was for the print media and not for its electronic counterpart,still that didn't stop me from wanting to brag about it to all and sundry. The person in question was Ishq Bector (dont say who!!),hip hop artist and songwriter/producer.It was such a relief that he was so easy to speak to,and my job was done in ten minutes flat!Finished reading Satyajit Ray's "The unicorn Expedition" last week and was completely bowled over by its simplicity and old age charm.The visionary in Ray was embossed all over the book and eloquent in every line.Cell phones,oral computers the man thought of it all!Also the book is an illustration that complicated ideas can be expressed in simple and understandable language,unlike Kafka whose way of putting things is so complicated that you literally have to tear your hair apart!Cant wait to watch his movies now!!Waiting desperately to receive the copy of "Tales of Beedle the Bard" by JK Rowling (Pt ordered it and I am reading it!!)...will update news about it very soon...

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

As the mighty Mumbai is brought to it's knees and is busy recuperating,some people seem hell bent on disturbing the already fragile peace of mind of its citizens and others who reside in this country.On one hand you have a chief minister reduced to giving adverts for disaster tourism (with a loser director in tow),on other hand you have his deputy (who I suspect is a somnambulist)who irks one and all with his stupidity! Not to be outdone in this circus, you have Naqvi with his Lipstick remarks landing him into major trouble.But if you do ask, mirror mirror who is the most insensitive of all-pat comes the reply Ath-choo-taa-nandan!The Kerala CM who managed to make any sensible person thinking of joining our army to make a rapid detour.Dog Indeed!Another amusing Spectacle was made by Jayanthi Natarajan who in a discussion with a clearly agitated Shobha De (who blasted politicians of all parties to her credit) said that Sonia Gandhi "gave" the ultimate sacrifice in the form of her husband and mother in law! We now want her to sacrifice her Rajya Sabha seat (as she clearly cant win one in the lok sabha )in 2009.Also was a refreshing change to see the doll-like Simi Garewal shed her wax sculpting and become passionate about an issue for once.Attack Pakistan,says the lady!Hear,hear!!Two images which will forever remain etched as the face of this tragedy are that of Major Sandeep's mother lovingly caressing her dead son and that of the iconic Taj erupting in flames! How the mighty have fallen! And to think that such grief and such dumb politicos can co exist!Amen!Note:thanks for chucking Patil out.Wanted one to quit got another free!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Another day another attack.How does this latest installment pan out? In true filmi tashan... with the terrorists taking the naval route this time..beat it? I am frankly disgusted by the entire drama which is being played out...12-15 men holding our most cosmopolitan city at ransom? I did not believe it,believe me when my brother told me about the attack in the morning...because it was too fantastic to be true!!sadly,this is true,over 100 dead and 300 injured officially,god knows how high the real figures are!Is this the last vestige broken? what will beat this?? More importantly,will we learn anything from this or allow more attacks to play out in the coming months? Tell me..how can people attack ELEVEN places in one night in a city which never sleeps,and move from one place to another as if they were strolling for pleasure....the Shameless Shivraj Patil did come in for the ubiquitous sound byte!!How brazen and how sad!!Is there no remnant of remorse,let alone responsibility?? I fully believe that he will continue as the(acting)Home Minister of our country and that history will judge him accurately(as the most inefficient/ineffective home minister ever) if not 10 janpath. What picture does this send to the world?A country which cannot safeguard the interests of it's golden goose..Bombay..what will it bother about its less endowed poorer cousins(read cities and states)And will we never learn the good things from America which successfully prevented all terror attacks after 9/11?? 12 hours and the horror continues...God save us.Cry,my beloved Country Cry for your children continue to bleed.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I'm a survivor!! watched Yuvraaj which was even worse than watching it's cocky cricketing namesake play!!the movie was a BIG mistake...one that should not have been made,and if it was so impertinently important it should've been made at least two decades back...still Katrina manages to look good whenever she plays whatever shes supposed to play!!The most hilarious part of the movie was when Zayed Khan makes faces at the mirror(and us,the amused audience)and pretends to cry,at the same time mocking all of us who opted to watch the movie instead of sitting cozily at home on a Saturday night...it was indeed fun!One path breaking blunder here is calling Anil kapoor autistic.Now any half baked dictionary will tell you that autistic people cannot respond to their surrounding environs,here this person not only responds but overtly exaggerates outdated values!!May be scientists should check out how he manages to be so annoying!Also Salman still cant act and worse he still makes an attempt!aint it too little,too late brother??even the music (which I thought and still think was fabulous,some called the lyrics by Gulzar bizarre!!excuse moi!!) was ripped apart by the critics...Did I mention that the movie also had a slutty vamp who slinks(was that supposed to be sexy??)and speaks shuddh Hindi in two scenes?Karzz would've given me more value for my ticket I guess...but what the heck I at least know how beautiful Austria looks!!Anyways,does the call by the Prime Minister to end terror in 100 days(whatever that means!!)hint that the general elections will be here in 3 months?? frankly I dont care as I just rediscovered one of my first loves-Milkmaid!!Nothing is as sweet,sinful and seductive!!Off to satiate my drooling buds!Ciao.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Was watching Breakfast at Tiffany's the other day and was completely bowled over by it.The subtle charm,the easy camaraderie and the uninhibited humour ,all was which was so refreshing in its candor.The story is extremely simple,the oldest in the World- boy meets girl err man meets woman and is fascinated by her from the minute he sees her and ultimately succeeds in winning her over.An exquisite love story told in its most rudimentary form and shorn of all pretense, this one is straight from the heart. Audrey Hepburn is absolutely amazing as a commitment- phobic party girl(believe me when I say I cannot describe her effortless act which includes calling her cat as Cat because she does not want to give him a name and become fond of it!!)George Peppard plays her antithesis,baritone and all,who is a struggling writer desperately in love with a woman who is equally endearing and frustrating at the same time.I will choose not to review the movie, out in 61'it is an acclaimed classic, just Google it if you are interested and you are bombarded with results!I would rather delve into the part it so effortlessly doles out-the insatiable thirst for love and belonging which makes me wonder what was the trick these old English Classics mastered which really redefines the art form called love!!Or for that matter any classic,Hindi(Pyaasa or kaaghaz ke Phool)or Telugu(Missamma and Maya Bazaar to name a few).Nothing seems fake or put on,loud or garish and every aspect really masters the nuances of compelling story telling!Just imagine a home made version of the same movie?Uggh!Thankfully the movie has a happy ending which made me sit up and grin stupidly at my computer screen!!How many movies affect you so profoundly?Casablanca and Breakfast done,the Way we were and Roman Holiday next on the menu...come,join me!!PS:I know it's not related but cannot restrain myself.Rahul Gandhi is calling himself a kid!(Don't smirk,its apparently rude and as my friend Na put it brusquely , that makes us infants!) No,he's not saying he has kids.He's calling himself one!40 is the new 20?? Whom is he 'kid'ding?Aww there is no wicked smiley here!![:D]

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Watched Dostana today!was kinda fun...a no brainer meant for having fun while watching it...no heavy duty scenes,no pyar and sacrifice... just like instant noodles...eat and forget! Priyanka Chopra was looking absolutely delicious and that's thrice in a row!(Drona,Fashion and now Dostana)John Abraham was given meticulous attention,navel to nose no part was differentiated and in those scenes in which he does manage to wear a shirt it is made sure that at least some cleavage pops out,also his 'ass'ets make a mark with a blink and miss appearance(which leaves poor Shilpa in a cold corner!!)...so with the guys happy with Pri Cho and gals with Jo Abs(literally!) where does that leave the bachchan boy? nowhere!! and that is true..neither does he receive the attention the other two are lavished upon nor does he have the physique to bare his chest and that has stranded AB with only Ash as the singular viewer who drools over him!(or at least prefers him to the other two) and does he still have that paunch, a leftover from Guru(yea the same one which was released when we were kids!)The first half was entertaining and the second half was plain silly,but something was amiss.nothing which will remind you of the movie once you are out...it was just a loose script bound together with some amusing gags...repeat value? naah wait for yuvraaj next week.although credit must be given for the fact that it did stay loyal to its name....Dostana! Discovery of the movie?? Pri Cho has amazing legs! where did you hide em' all along? or was it just us looking sideways??Another discovery and this onez actually gonna help people....Barista has absolutely yummy Pizzas..had a cottage cheese pizza today and man!!just like Pri cho in that golden swimsuit...smashing! thanks to my friend Si who suggested that we try one...also the place has a new menu which spells out each coffee succinctly,under pressure for waiters I guess,who are unable to decipher obnoxious pronunciations ( like cappuccino...kap-oo-chee-noh) Wicked!!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Went to a wedding yesterday(not Marriage as my friend Sa never tires of telling me!) and wondered what was it about weddings that makes one go ga-ga.Is it the joy of meeting people you never otherwise would,the riot of colors which run there,yum food or the heightened anticipation of happiness??Having closely been involved in two weddings(of my siblings,lest you think you-know-what!)I have fallen into love with the whole event management which takes place behind the scenes-the ingenious ways devised to show off subtly(if there is such a thing),the shopping(but of course),hurried activities,loads and loads of do-gooder relatives who end up being more of a hindrance than help and of course the endless opportunities it offers for networking! Did have fun at the Wedding,meeting old classmates and indulged myself by getting swept over in a wave of nostalgia.Cant wait for the next invite to turn up!Also I have to confess that I am mighty scared of the insolent Indica Cabs which rule the roads of Hyderabad.Absolutely disgraceful driving!!I always make sure that I am never behind,next to or in front of one but given it's frequency (which is more than the number of times you see Rahul Mahajan professing his undying love for Monica Bedi on BB) it is an impossible feat! and such dreadful drivers!effante terrible!!was listening to songs from Yuvraaj, one amazing song goes like this "zindagi zindagi kya kami rehgayi,aankh ki kore main kyon nami rehgayi" which made me so childishly happy!Gulzar rocks and is so much better than the affected Akthar!!go on listen to the song....

Monday, November 3, 2008

Okay, I finally managed to watch Fashion on the first day although in a completely Seedy theater complete with a lousy loo! Was it worth the trouble? I'll say...yes although many (including my sis and close buds)don't think so...why would I recommend it? because it is sheer paisa vasool and entertainment at it's most superficial standards. Because it boasts of the coming of age of Priyanka Chopra as a complete performer..actor and eye candy! Swooned over her in that scene when she drives the car drunk,loved her vain act in the first half and drooled over her mannequin like pose in the last but one scene...show stealer or stopper you got it all(including the next year's fimfare!!) should mention that I'm grateful to Bhandarkar that he didn't mess up the end like he did in that carelessly made Corporate. I do know that it was a tad too long,also since when did Chandigarh become small town??..but am willing to overlook these minor malfunctions!!...also I sincerely hope that we can see more of Kitu Gidwani, she looks smashing to the core! I also very firmly believe that Kangana Ranaut was not acting.I have to mention that Aaj Tak should be crowned the most shameless of all news channels(It beats some stiff competition there,including it's own sister Headlines Today!) The entire Saturday it ran a petty programme called kamzoor kadi kumble and on Sunday when the bumbling bloke retired, it immediately switched tracks saying kaptan and kammander kumble!!Such appalling standards...and Oh!just broke a fave coffee mug of mine owing to sheer slackness!!Sigh! signing off to clear the mess praying that we stop this mindless coverage of the US election.. sick and tired of it!I know air time needs poor programming but such senseless crap ...move on guys!! cover Uma Bharati and Vasundhara Raje...have you forgotten our very own humble land called India??

Nawab Sahib Qibla, a play in the ongoing Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival is a humorous take on the decadent turns life takes. A presentation from the Rafi Theatre Production from Lahore the play managed to be both funny and thought provoking at the same time. With the Duration of a little over an hour the Play is aimed primarily at reviving the interest in theatre in Hyderabad. Presented in Urdu, it managed to elicit an eclectic mix of audience of both the connoisseurs of theatre and Plebeian youngsters experimenting with a very interesting (albeit dying) art form. The Play traces the journey of Nawab Sahib Qibla who falls onto bad times owing to his reckless spending and his trysts with women of ill repute. When he has to resort to selling his ancestral House and property he is amazed to know that the buyer is none other than his loyal Servant of umpteen years, Rehman(played by a slick and extremely convincing Usmaan Peerzada) who ends up not only as the master of the property but also manages to steal the girl the Nawab has eyes for! The Play written in the 1940’s is designed to be a comedy of manners. The simple set manages to successfully recreate the lost age of Nawabs complete with their love for repose and requiescence, the leisure of long evening talks, the music from the gramophone records complete with a hookah and a paan-daan!! The play is a wonderfully witted social satire on the ways and follies of the Rich. A scene which succinctly explains this fact is when the Nawab is asked to take up some work by his Lawyer to substantiate his mearge earnings, the Nawab responds by saying “ Koi Kaam Nahi”, an attitude which speaks volumes about the laid back lifestyle of the Nawabs.(Something which us Hyderbadis can instantly relate to as we are the true inheritors of the Nizami-Nawab Culture). Muhammad Qavi Khan, an eminent Pakistani Theatre artist brings to life the Character of the Nawab, a man who has lost all his fortune but seeks to ward off the impending crisis by selling off the last remaining dregs of his ancestral Property. With his subtle acting overtones and delightful comic timing he delivers a flawlessly refined performance. The high point of the play comes right at the end when the role reversal of the Master and Servant is shown ironically in the Salaam which the Nawab gives his Servant who is the New Owner of His House!Times do change fast and how!! The only sore point was the continuous ringing of mobile phones,which did manage to irritate a few and infuriate the other few! All in all a refreshing Concept which adds a new dimension to a genre called sophisticated comedy!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Let me confess, i have never been interested in Cricket...the only time i watched it was like a decade ago when my brother ruled the Remote... but then even I am seriously rattled by the allegations made against Sachin by Adam Gilchrist!! What?? aamchi marathi mulga a liar?? not a sport?? Adam, what if Raj Thackery hears you? you can never enter Bombay again! Or wait has the Shiv Sena taken up the cudgels this time?(I wish!) The issue is however serious, especially as Australians think they are the successors to the notion of their erstwhile rulers, The British who thought that there are only two kind of rules- one for themselves and one for others. Australia has a history of Bigotry,their brutal running down of the original Aussie nationals, the Aborigines is well documented(who were treated so badly that in the 60's each member of an aboriginal family was assigned to a white household ostensibly to study their living habits!!)So, when Australian Cricketers,Kings of Sledging,Sultans of Slime claim that they are professionals even a novice like me snorts!! What prompted a usually mild Gilchrist to say that?? Only greed for creating interesting his biography? or was there always a Serpent lying dormant beneath that calm facade waiting to strike after he retires?? Well! Whatever,But i LOVED Bhajji's acerbic reply,this Singh proves that he is indeed a king-on or off the the dance floor!Okay, I saw the Dostana trailers , It heralds the coming of age of the Indian Voyeur who does not distinguish between sexes (now,there's your equality!!),poor John Abraham was treated like Zeenie Baby in Satyam Shivam Sundaram...i mean every angle?? Actually it was the combo of John/Karan which welcomed the showcasing of the male body what with the latter's Bo-Derek like introductory scene in Kaal,complete with a snake thrown in, bringing in the tectonic shift!! Let us watch the movie and decide if Poor Priyanka was given as much attention to detail!! Will sign off saying that i'm dying to watch Fashion..will keep you updated...Happy Sunday!!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Sunday Sunday Sunday...this had the buzzword for most of the past week...it finally arrived washing away my meticulous planning of the entire week without any regret!Firstly two of my friends gave me a royal haath...thankfully had a more reliable friend who saved my Sunday from going completely kaput!Went to Kotha Bangaru Lokam,a ridiculous movie not only because i no longer belong to the age group it appeals to(Sigh!!),but also because it dragged on relentlessly without any rhyme or reason.Swetha Prasad looked terribly young(I know she plays a 17 year old,but even that does not suffice as an excuse for having such a lot of baby fat!!)Thankfully the second half was a lil' bit more appealing and that was not only because Prakash Raj dies.From there we dragged our heels to our Beloved Barista at Jubilee Hills where our faithful Raju received us with more enthusiasm than which the hero and heroine embraced in that juvenile flick! Tried a new Mojito which was as woefully pale and dreary as the lead heroine in that Bhandan Serial on Colors!The blue berry muffin as usual saved the day for me. May god bless it.Really wanted to check out the Odyssey nearby(a very close friend reviewed it very favorably)and it looked absolute yum from outside but unfortunately cudnt go!Unfortunately for me Ashutosh is still in the Big Boss house...wud smeone please tell him NOT to wear those short body hugging tees? he aint a 16 yr old girl and we cud well do without him distastefully showing his lower back every few mintues along with those obscene thrusts and gyrations he manages each time a song is played!What with him,Raja with a face like that and Rahul Mahajan i have forbidden my mum to serve me food any time Big Boss threatens to be on air!Also saw that wonderfully dim witted Aishwarya interview on NDTV and thought that another day,another silly interview for this former MISS WORLD(stupid) Sample this..."It's not that we are saying this is there,that is there in Drona,i mean its actually there for you to see it"...i needed a full half hour to recover from that..i mean Ash isn't that what you were supposed to speak about?? stuff that's actually there in the movie..that's called promotion not wishful thinking!! The only high point of the week in television was Sreenivasan Jain's interview with the wonderfully elegant Waheeda Rehman who spoke candidly and straight from her heart with a twinkle in her eye(Would you please please Teach Ash how you do it Waheedaji??)Wonder why Sreenivasan was so insistent on making her accept that she had an affair with Guru Dutt while the lady vehemently kept disagreeing.Had a fair deal this week..cheers.

Monday, October 13, 2008

One name has been echoing throughout the length and breadth of America in the past few weeks..Sarah Palin,call her by a name of your choice, Governor of Alaska, mother of five, moose hunter, Republican Vice Presidential nominee or an ex- beauty queen, she has captured the imagination of a nation only like a woman can!Ever since John Mc Cain named her as his vice presidential nominee she has been subjected to immense scrutiny which in USA was hitherto reserved only for super celebrities.Married to her high school sweetheart she is on her way to become a grand mother(her teenage daughter's pregnant,a fact she used to press to her advantage again something which is possible only in America!!)Palin, a surprise front runner has added to the presidential race a unique dimension-that of breezing and nonchalant sexuality with a dash of glamour rivaling that of Barack Obama, no wonder that everything about her has been a subject of frenzied discussion,from the fashionable (her glasses which are flying off the shelves) to the rumors (that her lip liner is actually a tattoo) and to the right down nasty(allegations that her last born Trig is actually her grand kid)...she is everywhere!A fact further certified when her debate with the boring Biden of the Democrats attracted 70 million viewers,6 million more than the debate between the Presidential nominees and the highest for a political debate since 1992!!So what makes Palin tick? Her brood of five with a kid suffering from Down's syndrome? A fairytale marriage?(She's related to Princess Diana according to ancestry.com)...the reason is a combination of these factors, people identify with her as a mother having teenage kids and with a family which is not perfect, they relate to the fact that she has a child serving in Iraq, an issue which whips up passion like none other in the USA, the fact that she is considered a rank outsider in the gritty world of Washington politics, the fact that she is pro life and a devout christian makes her an amazing package which will ensure that the spot light will remain on her whatever be the result of this bitterly fought election. A point which many people forget in the chaos of criticism is that she is the vice Presidential candidate not the one standing for the Commander in Chief! She has been criticized rather viciously about her lack of experience and insufficient knowledge of world affairs(She applied for a Passport only a few years back!)...But whatever be her political standing,she has proven to be the ultimate Sidney Sheldon heroine who from being a Governor of an obscure state has World leaders read Asif Ali Zardari unabashedly admiring her looks! Much as i hate the defeat of the Democratic Party,the result is enormously enticing...a mouth watering 2012 contest between Sarah Palin and Hillary Rodham Clinton! what say??

Balika Vadu,the latest show on colors is grabbing quite a few eyeballs of late.Set in rural Rajasthan the show deals with a refreshingly different and relevant social theme-child marriages,which is still a common practice in many parts of Rajasthan,Uttar Pradesh and even in the tribal parts of Andhra Pradesh!The story deals with Anandi(Avika Gaur who essays the role with amazing dexterity and is a true find),married at an early age and how she finds her feet in a rich household under the severe gaze of her grand mother in law Kalyani(Surekha Sikri,the national award winner playing the curmudgeon with a heart with unrivaled finesse)with help from her understanding in laws who are quite helpless to go against the wishes of Kalyani.It also shows the pain of Bhairav who wants to treat his daughter in law like his own child and has to deal with a dominating mother with her orthodox beliefs and Sumitra(Sadia Siddiqui who emotes wonderfully through her eyes)trapped between her duty as a daughter in law and her love for her son's wife who is after all a kid.Why does this show strike a chord? Because it strikes a chord between the demands of a TRP driven world of competitive television and the need to deliver a hard hitting social statement.Because the kids have done an amazing job and so has everyone around them.Because it is a refreshing change from the overdressed and over rated soaps which rule the roost today.Because even the social message flashed at the end of each episode is extremely endearing.Because the kids behave their age,don't mouth irritatingly smart one liners and do not behave like wannabe adults.Well shot without the irritating and needless zooming of camera it succeeds in bringing out the vibrant hues of Rajasthan through it's dexterous use of colors and sights.It tells us that widows are,even in this age of Ipod's and Botox treatments,subjected to incorrigible behavior by their own kith and kin.While credit should be given to the casting directors,the producers also should be given credit for treading on a off beaten bath.Through it's subtle narration and novel interpretation it reminds us of a time when television was a medium to deal with serious societal issues.The show has come under criticism from some quarters because it uses kids as props...but then how do you address issues related to children if you don't use them?Another reason it has been rebuked is because it is too dramatic but then dosen't melodrama add it's own zing to things at times? A sensible start has been made,my own hope is that it treads on similar grounds and comes to a logical ending rather than to keep wandering for years!